Dunedin City Council has awarded Turmec and its Australian partner, The Environmental Group Limited, a $11.9 million contract to supply specialist, high-end sorting machinery to process materials from kerbside collection yellow-lidded mixed recycling bins.
The Council says the equipment will form the backbone of a new materials recycling facility (MRF) at the Green Island Resource Recovery Park, a major redevelopment of which is scheduled to begin later this year.
Designed by Turmec, the MRF will feature advanced optical sorters that efficiently separate paper, cardboard, metals, and rigid plastics (types 1, 2, and 5) from the mixed recycling stream. Turmec and The Environmental Group will also deliver all associated infrastructure for power supply and operator safety setting a new benchmark for modern, automated waste recovery across the region.
Infrastructure Services Committee Chairperson, Councillor Jim O’Malley said the Council had committed to reducing waste to landfill.
“At the moment our mixed recycling is sorted in a Timaru MRF. Procurement of this sorting machinery is another key step on the road to providing local sustainability solutions. It essential to achieve optimal process and operational efficiency for plant machinery, as well as overall whole-of-life value for money,” said Cr O’Malley.
“Another advantage of processing yellow-lidded bin contents locally with high end equipment lies in maximising the amount of good quality material we can directly supply to resale markets. When our MRF is complete, we will no longer transport material to Timaru’s MRF which will mean transport and carbon emissions savings.
“We collect about 5,000 tonnes per annum of mixed recycling material from kerbside now. The Turmec plant can easily accept 8,000 tonnes per annum. This will allow us to scale up and provide the service to neighbouring regions if the possibility arises in future.”
Turmec CEO, Geoff Bailey said the company was proud to partner with Dunedin City Council on the transformative project.
“This investment in state-of-the-art sorting technology will not only optimise recycling efficiency but also support DCC’s long-term vision of reducing landfill reliance and building local circular economy capability,” said Mr Bailey.
“With over five decades of experience and innovation in recycling engineering, Turmec is committed to delivering sustainable, future-proof solutions that reduce carbon impact and deliver real economic value for communities like Dunedin.”
The Environmental Group Limited CEO, Jason Dixon said the partnership with Turmec and Dunedin City Council highlights how strategic investment in advanced recycling infrastructure is vital to keeping New Zealand clean and resilient in the face of growing environmental challenges.
“We’re excited to contribute to a solution that delivers environmental, economic, and social benefits, and we look forward to continuing our work across Australasia to support communities in building a more sustainable future,” said Mr Dixon.
Council’s nine-year plan includes $78 million for the Green Island Resource Recovery Park redevelopment as a whole. As well as the new MRF, there will be a new composting facility for green-lidded bin contents, upgraded bunkers for recyclable glass sorting and storage, an upgraded transfer station, roads and services to new buildings, a kerbside collections truck park and office and a repositioned green/garden waste drop off area.
The recycling drop-off area, organics receival building, Rummage shop and education centre will remain. All public and commercial services will continue. The Council says the redevelopment construction is likely to be completed by the end of 2029.
